Boob-No-More

P.S. Dallas and Phoenix MAY have improved their chances to win this year (we shall see), but both just effectively shortened their windows as legitimate championship contenders. Two or three years from now when the Blazers are contending for their first title, Phoenix and Dallas will both be a lot worse than they would have been if they hadn't made these desperation moves. So, while we may have "missed out" on these big moves, in the long run we will actually benefit from Shaq going to Phoenix and Kidd going to Dallas.

BNM

PapaG

This is pretty much do or die for Phoenix this season. Nash and Shaq will have to be moved to get some young talent around Stoudemire. I don't see how Phoenix is in the title conversation in two years, and the same goes with Dallas, San Antonio, and Denver (not that they are now).

Portland does not need to make a move right now. Lay back, assess, and see how the Lakers, Jazz, and Hornets develop over the next two seasons. At that point, a major move may be necessary to put this team over the hump.

The Blazers are in a great position right now. It's an arms race in the West for aging teams trying to win just one title.

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...it's largely an anonymous bunch. After the 21-year-old Webster torched the Jazz for 24 third-quarter points on Jan. 5, Utah reserve Matt Harpring observed, "It was tough when what's-his-face got hot."

PapaG

Heh.

I was posting basically the same thing while you were posting it. Great minds and all that.

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...it's largely an anonymous bunch. After the 21-year-old Webster torched the Jazz for 24 third-quarter points on Jan. 5, Utah reserve Matt Harpring observed, "It was tough when what's-his-face got hot."

Boob-No-More

P.P.S. As far as KP not being Trader Bob, we can only hope he's not. The kind of big name, splashy trades Phoenix and Dallas just pulled off are EXACTLY the kind of win-now-the-hell-with-the-future desperation moves Whitsitt made after the Blazers lost the 2000 WCF to the Lakers. By trading away our younger talent for other-the-hill, grossly overpaid players he shortened our window to win a title (slammed it shut actually as we never got past the first round again). That's exactly what Dallas and Phoenix just did (and I'm glad they did it and we stood pat).

BNM

MARIS61

We'd have to re-inforce the court to hold the weight.

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I'm ALWAYS right and I NEVER lie. - George C. Tirebiter
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Masbee

I am a little confused by what you are saying.

I don't disagree with anything of substance you have said.

I don't follow your conclusion.

The Blazers didn't get in on the Kidd trade which was to net them Devin Harris.

You are saying the Blazers aren't making any "desperation" moves to try to "win now". The Blazers aren't throwing away their future to do so.

Here is my confusion:

How is Devin Harris - one of the ten best point guards under 25 in the NBA who on paper seems a fine match for Roy in the backcourt - NOT building for the future?

How is Devin Harris - currently nursing an injury - making a move to "win now"? Trading 3 or 4 players for an injured one is a "win now" move?

I don't think if the Blazers had managed to trade for Devin Harris it would have benn ANYTHING like Suns and Mavs moves. It would have been a win later and win long term move.

PapaG

Statistically Jack falls into that category, and statistically Outlaw is a Top 5 sixth man under the age of 25.

The Blazers wouldn't be giving up a vet who can still produce.

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...it's largely an anonymous bunch. After the 21-year-old Webster torched the Jazz for 24 third-quarter points on Jan. 5, Utah reserve Matt Harpring observed, "It was tough when what's-his-face got hot."

Boob-No-More

Do we know what was REALLY offered and what we would have had to REALLY give up to get it? If there was an offer on the table, KP obviously thought what they wanted in return was too much to give up. I trust his judgement in these matters much more than a bunch of rumors and message board chatter.

There will be other trade possibilities down the road. We have lost nothing. We still have all the same tradeable assets today that we did yesterday. Just becuase this rumored deal didn't happen doesn't mean KP won't make a trade if he feels it will improve the team. For whatever reason, if there was a trade proposal, KP didn't think it was the RIGHT deal. Again, I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt and trust his judgement. Who knows, maybe there is a better trade being worked out with another team that we haven't heard anything about. Perhaps not. Point is we don't know. So, there little point condeming KP for not making a move when we don't know the whole story. Sometimes it's the trade you don't make that ends up being the best deal.

BNM

Boob-No-More

Besides, Devean Goerge just blocked the trade. So, this isn't a done deal, yet. Who knows, maybe Pritchard is still working on something with Dallas and New Jersye behind the scenes to help get this done - as both teams seem to want it to happen. Again, we don't know the whole story. Only those involved in the negeotiations do.

BNM

Masbee

Yes, all fine, yet it still has nothing to do with labeling the Blazers smart for avoiding a "Win Now, Sacrifice Your Future" trade.

The Blazers trading for Harris is NOT a win now type deal. It is not sacrificing the future.

That is what I am saying. Your post implied the Blazers were smart for avoiding something that was not a fact in existence. A strawman you made up.

That the Blazers may have been smart to turn down the Devin Harris deal because the cost was too high is another thought entirely.

MrJayremmie

Devin Harris is 24, as old as Jarrett jack but much better, gettin' Harris is more for the future than for the present. We need to consolidate roster space anyway, this is a no-brainer unless they are asking for somethin' like Outlaw, Webster, Frye, 1st... then i understand. But a deal they said was possible on ESPn was Frye, Sergio, Webster for Harris and Bass... that is an absolute no brainer, Harris is one of the best young PGs in the NBA. Paul and Williams are the only ones i can think of better, under 25, i might be missin' a few though.

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Jerryd Bayless

#10

The Dallas deal isn't about mortgaging the future, it's consolidating prospects. If you have a chance in the NBA to trade quantity for quality, you have to take it. If the deal is Jack + Webster for Harris, that's clearly an upgrade.

MrJayremmie

If anyone thinks that trading for Harris is for the presnet, let me assure you, gettin' a 24 yr. old player is for the future, we would have him locked up for another 3 years also.

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